China: Consultation opened on the Internet Information Service Algorithms Recommendation Management Regulations

On 27 August 2021, the Cybersecurity Administration of China opened the consultation on the draft of the Internet Information Service Algorithms Recommendation Management Regulations. Public comments may be submitted until 26 September 2021. The draft aims to promote the development of internet information services while safeguarding national security and social public interests, protecting the legitimate rights and interests of citizens, legal persons and other organizations. Algorithm recommendation service providers must follow the principles of fairness, openness, transparency, scientific rationality, and honesty. Moreover, algorithm recommendation service providers shall regularly review, evaluate, and verify algorithm mechanisms, models, data and application results and ensure that in no case algorithm recommendation services are used in activities prohibited by laws. Additionally, the draft provides that algorithm recommendation service providers shall strengthen the management of information content and thus establish a mechanism to identify illegal information. In case illegal information is discovered, the transmission shall be stopped immediately. Not only shall the algorithm recommendation service provider notify users of its provision of the algorithm recommendation service and publicize the basic principle, purpose and operation mechanism of the algorithm recommendation service, but it also provides users with options that are not specific to their personal characteristics, or provide users with convenient options to turn off algorithm recommendation services.